FinU and REO Sign Roadmap for Training Personnel Reserve of Solid Municipal Waste Industry

On March 13, 2024, Stanislav Prokofiev, Rector of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, and Denis Butsaev, CEO of the Russian Environmental Operator, signed a roadmap according to which they will jointly begin training personnel for the solid municipal waste management industry.

“Today it is extremely important to form and develop a closed-loop economy, and for this, not only material, but also intellectual resources are needed. Issues of achieving national development goals and responsible business conduct have traditionally been the focus of attention of FinU experts. Thus, FinU is one of the developers of a new tool for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals – the ECG ranking, which allows taking into account national priorities and values. Ecology is one of the key criteria for ranking companies, which allows you to identify growth points for a business. I am convinced that the document signed today will become a powerful driver for the active development of new joint ideas on the formation of a unified scientific and educational environment, as well as the development and implementation of innovative training programs for highly qualified personnel for the national economy,” said Stanislav Prokofiev, Rector of the FinU.

“Last year on the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) REO signed a cooperation agreement with the FinU. Today we discussed issues related to our cooperation and signed a roadmap for 2024. We will develop a master’s program aimed at training personnel in responsible investment, which is necessary to build a closed-loop economy in our country,” said Denis Butsaev, CEO of REO.

The action plan for the development of cooperation between the FinU and the REO includes the development of a master’s degree program in responsible investment and a continuing education program in global circular economy and responsible investment.

During the year, FinU and the REO will develop a “Passport of a Specialist in Sustainable Development” and a “Passport of a Specialist in Responsible Investment”.

“As part of the roadmap, we will consider the possibility of internships for FinU students at REO, as well as their participation in the Youth Day of the Russian Environmental Forum (REF),” said Dmitry Boyko, PR Director of the REO Communications Department.

It is also planned that the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation will join the REO consortium for scientific and methodological support for the transition to a closed-loop economy. The consortium includes leading Russian universities, the largest enterprises in waste management, as well as companies committed to the principles of sustainable development.

During his visit to the FinU, Denis Butsaev also gave an open lecture for students and told them about responsible financing and the formation of a closed-loop economy in Russia.

“Responsible investment is based, among other things, on the company’s desire to contribute to the sustainable development of society at an acceptable risk level. This type of financing is primarily expressed in the consideration of ESG factors in the investment process, as well as in the disclosure by the investor of information about the approaches and policies that he applies in responsible investment. For example, the REO provides state support to project initiators in creating an infrastructure framework for the solid municipal waste management industry, and also creates conditions for the formation of a closed-loop economy in Russia,” said the Head of the REO.

At the end of the visit, the Rector of the FinU personally conducted for the guests a tour of the exposition of the FinU museum dedicated to domestic financial system development. ​